New Hack. Need testers please (W98)

Mosaic1 · #1 05-27-2002, 03:48 AM

The question of removing the icon overlay on shortcuts has baffled us for a while now. I think I have it. The new shell32.dll changed our ability to use Tweakui to remove the shortcut overlays.

Tonight I decided to play with it once more. I reinstalled the new shell32.dll.

I deleted the ShellIconCache (not sure if this was necessary)

I went into the registry and found this key:
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}]
@="Shell Icon Overlay Manager"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}\InProcServer32]
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\SHELL32.DLL"
"ThreadingModel"="Both"

I decided to modify the default value of the InProcServer32 to an empty String Value that is this -->> ""

So now the exported key looked like this:
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}]
@="Shell Icon Overlay Manager"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}\InProcServer32]
@=""
"ThreadingModel"="Both"

I rebooted and no more Arrows. I didn't need to use TWEAKUI. It was set to arrows. But changing this key removed the arrows anyway. And I have the new Shell32.dll in Windows\system.

What I need please, is for a few of you to try this and see if you have any problems. I have rebooted twice and so far so good. I seem to be OK. But you know how that goes. Side effects etc. I don't want to be overconfident.

Thanks in Advance,

Mo

Mosaic1 · #2 05-27-2002, 04:08 AM

I forgot to mention the new Shell32.dll was a part of the March7 Security Update from MS.
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/contents/WUCritical/q313829/Default.asp>http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/contents/WUCritical/q313829/Default.asp</a>

TonyKlein · #3 05-27-2002, 08:51 AM

Hi Mo,

I knew you wouldn't rest until you'd found a fix for this one...

I installed the patch (which I hadn't previously), and my arrows were back (Win98 SE).

Edited the key the way you described in order to remove the pointer to Shell32.dll, rebooted, and my arrows were gone.

I do believe you've clinched it, as I can't imagine this having a profound influence on anything else.

But I'll keep you posted in case anything unexpected were to happen.

Thanks, Tony

TonyKlein · #4 05-27-2002, 09:01 AM

Forgot to say: I didn't bother to delete ShellIconCache, so that's apparently no prerequisite for the tweak to work.

Ridgerunr · #5 05-28-2002, 02:22 AM

Hi Mo,Long time no see...Wandered over here from a post on another board thru a link given(yu know8-) )concerning the March 7th patch and arrow thing.

I had skipped the patch at first,then decided to try and see what happened.Shure 'nuff,arrows back.

Did the shell32.dll replacement and it went back as advertised,but wondered if the ol' shell32.dll would mess the patch in general. So,replaced the patch from Win Ups and tried your method. Arrows are gone and no probs so far. This with Win98FE plus usual updates n' stuff.

Thanks a' bunch!

Well,once again,into the breach>>>

Mosaic1 · #6 05-28-2002, 02:44 AM

Tony,
Thanks. I had dropped the subject for a long time. I picked it up again bacause I had an idea. That didn't work, but it did sideways lead me to this resolution. I love Resource Hacker. It gave me a different point of view.

As mentioned by IMM, a member of another forum, the only probable side effect would be that other Shellicon overlays would not be put in place. But there are not many. I know I can live with that one so far.
Because There is no dll named as the Icon Overlay Manager, there are no shellicon overlays being put in place.

Ridgerunr,
You're welcome. Glad to see you over here. Don't be a stranger. Hope you had a great Holiday Weekend.

Mo

Sabbathcat · #7 06-05-2002, 12:19 PM

Just a quick question.. Is the shell32.dll included in the patch or do I need to download the newer versin from elsewhere..?

I'll give it a whirl tonight, after a nasty conflict between tweak UI and the icon software I'm running it's left me without the option to remove the icon overlay which use to work just fine.

hopefully this hack will cure my right angle arrow blues.

Cheers
John
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.sabbathcat.co.uk>Sabbathcat.com</a>

TonyKlein · #8 06-05-2002, 04:33 PM

The MS patch includes the new version of Shell32.dll.

Afterwards, to get rid of the arrows, apply Mo's tweak.

Ik works.

Cheers, Tony

report_2 · #9 06-06-2002, 02:26 AM

I tested and found that it does in fact get rid of the arrows. Good job.

How about another related challenge?
I like the settings at 'Light Arrows' vs no arrows.

Can you come up with something for this preference?

(Wishful thinking on my part I believe)

Mosaic1 · #10 06-06-2002, 06:40 PM

report_2,
With the new shell32.dll, and this new Tweak there are no Shellicon overlays being placed whatsoever. So to get any overlays, you would have to put the registry key back the way it was.

I remember in March when I first tried to change the arrows with the new Shell32.dll, I did try the light arrow. It would not take. You can try it. My memory could be faulty. Put the registry key back as it was and see about TWEAKUI to place the light arrows. EDIT: No. I just tried it. The way the new shell32.dll is coded, it just doesn't allow for any changes in the arrow overlay icon. It's always good to recheck though.

There is a third possibility. That is to use Resource Hacker to open Shell32.dll and then replace the icon overlay resource with the light arrow resource.

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Mosaic1 on 06/06/02 13:47.</FONT></P>